Interpreting a Bible Passage
June 12, 2022

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)
 
Rules of Interpretation

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.1 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.”
John 15:1-17 (NIV)

1) Consider the context. 

If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the FIRE and burned.” vs. 6 (NIV)

2) Define key words.

Recommended Resource: www.blueletterbible.org

3) Interpret unclear verses with clear ones.

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” vs. 4 (NIV)

• Fruit comes from remaining in Jesus.

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” vs. 8 (NIV)

• Fruit brings glory to God.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” vs. 11 (NIV)

• Fruit brings joy to my life.

4) Look for the most obvious

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”  vs.7 (NIV)

• Remaining in Jesus produces answered prayer.

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13 (NIV)

• Answered prayer brings glory to God.

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:24 (NIV)

• Answered prayer gives me complete joy.

Bottom Line: I bear fruit by asking in prayer!

I need to ask God for                            

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